Duomo di Cefalù

The striking cathedral of Cefalù

A leisurely stroll down Corso Ruggiero, the pedestrianized main drag of the old town, leads to Piazza Duomo, a palm-shaded cafe-lined square that serves as a stage for the monumental twin-towered facade of the ★ Duomo (tel. +39-0921-922-021), magnificently set against the foot of the towering rocca cliffs.

Roger II built this first of Sicily's great Norman cathedrals in 1131, supposedly in thanks after his ship found shelter here during a violent sea storm. By 1166, they’d put the finishing touches on the altar-end mosaics, fantastic Greek-Byzantine creations featuring a mighty Christ Pancrator in the curve of the apse with outstretched hands and a kindly look on His face.

The baroque accretions that once decorated the nave have been "restored" out of the picture to return the body of the church to its plain, medieval appearance.

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